The Law Dictionary

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PARTY Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

A person concerned or having or taking part in any affair, matter, transaction, or proceeding, considered individually. See PARTIES. The term “parties” includes all persons who are directly interested in the subject- matter in issue, who have a right to make defense, control the proceedings, or appeal from the judgment. Strangers are persons who do not possess these rights. Hunt v. Haven, 52 N. H. 162. “Party” is a technical word, and has a precise meaning in legal parlance. By it is understood he or they by or against whom a suit is brought, whether in law or equity; the party plaintiff or defendant, whether composed of one or more individuals, and whether natural or legal persons, (they are parties in the writ, and parties on the record;) and all others who may be affected by the suit, indirectly or consequentially, are persons interested, but not parties. Merchants’ Bank v. Cook, 4 Pick. 405.

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